TheKnot.com and Men’s Health Find 17% of Men Would Wear a “Man-Gagement” Ring

Fifth-Annual Proposal and Engagement Survey From TheKnot.com and Men’s Health Reveals What Men and Women Are Thinking (and Doing!) During One of Life’s Most Personal Moments

NEW YORK (February 14, 2012) – TheKnot.com, the #1 online wedding planning resource, andMen’s Health, the largest men’s lifestyle magazine brand, today revealed the results of their fifth annual co-branded proposal and engagement survey. In the midst of prime proposal season when more than half a million men plan to “pop the question,” this one-of-a-kind survey, featured exclusively on MensHealth.com and TheKnot.com, asked more than 1,400 men and women engagement questions that reveal everything from how brides feel about the ring to how much their sex life has changed (or not!) since becoming engaged.

“This survey goes inside the minds of men and women to reveal exactly what they’re thinking and expecting during one of life’s most crucial and thrilling moments,” says Carley Roney, editor in chief of TheKnot.com. “We found that sex lives for engaged couples are increasing, men are open to wearing an engagement ring themselves, and women really want to show off their bling to everyone in their social network.”

Sex Lives Have Increased Since Becoming Engaged. Love is in the air for many couples…and in between the sheets! Twenty percent of men surveyed on MensHealth.com and 18% of brides surveyed on TheKnot.com said their sex lives have increased since becoming engaged. Surprisingly, however, almost half of brides (48%) and 43% of men said they did NOT celebrate with sex on the night of their engagement.

Men Want to Sport Some Bling Too! Ladies, don’t be surprised if your man asks for a ring: 17% of men surveyed said women shouldn’t be the only ones to wear a ring before marriage and that they’d rock a “man-gagement” ring. What woman wouldn’t want other ladies to know her man was off the market?

Carat Size AND Quality Matter to Brides. Guys, take note. Quality of the ring is important, but don’t forget about the size of the bling! When asked how much carat size really matters, more than half (59%) of brides said both size and quality matter to them. When asked if they thought carat size matters to her, a whopping 76% of the men surveyed said, “No, she doesn’t care that much—quality over quantity!” Think again, guys.

Brides Care What Friends and Family Think of Their Ring. Nearly one in four (22%) brides surveyed admitted that it matters what their friends and family think about the ring. Maybe the 44% of guys who chose the ring themselves should’ve enlisted some extra help from her side.

Not All Brides Love Their Ring. When asked if they thought their fiancée loved the ring, nearly all (98%) men said “yes,” yet 9% of brides actually didn’t love the ring. While 4% let their fiancé know how they felt, the other 5% didn’t have the heart to tell their fiancés!

Tradition Reigns for Men. A massive 76% of men said it is essential to propose on bended knee, while only 48% of women agreed. Yet when it came to asking both Mom and Dad for their daughter’s hand in marriage, men and women were pretty much on the same page, with 21% and 28%, respectively, saying it’s a do.

Brides Love to Post Their Rock on Facebook. Who’s more excited to show off the ring? Brides, with 57% saying “yes” to sharing their happy news on Facebook by posting a picture of their ring. Yet when asked what they thought, 22% of men said it’s tacky for their fiancée to post a pic of the ring. Surprisingly, 12% of brides admitted that they posted a pic of the ring or changed their relationship status to “engaged” on Facebook before emailing and texting friends.

To help ensure a perfect proposal for future brides and grooms, TheKnot.com has created a proposal guide at TheKnot.com/engaged, chock-full of engagement ring shopping tips and wedding proposal ideas.

About TheKnot.comThe Knot is the nation’s leading wedding resource, reaching over a million engaged couples each year through the #1 wedding website, TheKnot.com; The Knot national and local wedding magazines; and The Knot books (published by Random House and Chronicle). The Knot is the flagship brand of XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO; http://www.xogroupinc.com), formerly The Knot Inc., a global media and technology leader devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing young women with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives.

About Men’s Health (www.menshealth.com)
Men’s Health is the go-to source for guys seeking the latest information and expert advice in their pursuit of a healthy and active lifestyle. Published 10 times a year in the U.S. by Rodale, Men’s Health is the best-selling men’s magazine on newsstands and provides its 12 million readers with the up-to-the-minute information on health, fitness, fashion, nutrition, relationships, travel, technology and finance. Men’s Health is the largest men’s lifestyle magazine brand in the world, offering 40 global editions, a host of apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry subscribers, as well as branded books, eBooks and microsites. The magazine has garnered numerous industry accolades, winning National Magazine Awards in the general excellence and personal service categories as well as being deemed by Media Industry Newsletter as the “#1 Most Notable Magazine Launch of the Last 25 Years.” Men’s Health has also made several appearances on Advertising Age’s “A List” and Adweek’s “Hot List.” For up-to-date news from Men’s Health, visitwww.menshealth.com, and get instant updates on Twitter (@MensHealthMag) and Facebook (Men’s Health).